Package for products

ABSTRACT

A package for relatively flat products that is made from a single blank of material, so a single die can cut the product package. The package, when mounted onto the product displays portions of the product enclosed and displays the product without stapling, or taping or using lock tabs for fastening the package together.

United States Patent 1 Margolis et al.

1 Oct. 23, 1973 PACKAGE FOR PRODUCTS Inventors: Morris Margolis, PO. Box 1206,

Minneapolis, Minn. 55400; Harry F. 7 Collins, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.

Assignee: Said Margolis by said Collins Filed: Oct. 29, 1971 Appl. No.1 193,792

US. Cl 206/79, 206/45.l4, 206/D1G. 8 Int. Cl B65d 73/00, B65d 85/02 Field of Search 206/44 R, 79, 45.14, 206/65 C, DIG. 8, 78 R; 229/87 R; 46/74 D; 273/106 B References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1962 Mosse 206/65 C 12/1967 Headrick 46/74 D 5/1934 Einson 206/D1G. 8

Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. AttameyRalph L. Dugger et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention has relation to packages for products.

2. Prior Art In the prior art, there have been packages used for products, of course, for many years, some of which are stand-up type packages, and some of which are formed with an ability to permit the product being packaged to be seen and displayed.

For example US. Pat. No. 1,871,388 shows a type of package which is used for holding fishing leaders in a loop or circular hoop form, and the package could be used for a disc or flat object as well. This structure or package requires an adhesive fastening and is not a selfforming and self-retained package.

US Pat. No. 2,230,719 shows a container for lighting switch plates and wall sockets with cutouts that permit seein the product through the package. This package has to also be fastened in place, and is not selferecting or forming.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,160 also shows .a package having an opening through which the product can be seen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a package for a product that is placed on the product and retains its shape without separate fasteners. The package does not completely enclose the product, but is cut with a suitable die so that portions of the package fold over and around opposite edge portions of the product. This permits edge portions of the product to protrude through openings in the package, and at the same time folded portions of the package ar held in position at the back of the product forming a stand or support for the product so that the package and product will stand on a flat surface. The package portions that are folded to the back of the product are held in position against the back of the product without any staples, glue, paper tabs or any other fastening means. The product is supported by the edges of cutout openings through which the product protrudes.

By the simple expedient of adding a tab having an opening in the tab, the package and product can also be hung for display. The package has cutout portions in the center panel that form a suitable design through which the product can be seen, and wherein the product forms the background for the design. If the product is a different color than the package, this means that the desgin on the package appears to be in a different color merely because the color of the product can be seen through the design cutout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package made according to the present invention shown with a product in position in the package;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with a dotted showing of how the package is placed onto the product;

FIG. 3 is a flat layout of the package of the present invention;

, FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the package and product of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the present invention installed on a product. As shown, the package 10 is utilized for display, support and packaging of the flying saucer 1 1 that is made of a flexible polyethylene, and as shown, has a center section 12, and a rim portion 13 that forms a concave inner or rear surface, and a convex outer surface indicated at 14. The flying saucer 11 is of any suitable or usual design, and is used as an example herein for purposes of illustration. The package itself can be used with any concave or disc shaped object and even any relatively flat, thin object. Where the device is not concave, this package can slightly be differently formed, but the principle of having a self-forming stand-up package, and a package that will be formed over an object to be displayed, leaving areas for displaying the object and also which does not require any interlocking tabs, glue, staples, or any other fastening means, can be used for many product shapes and sizes.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the package 10 is shown as a flat piece of suitable paper or cardboard stock indicated at 15, having a continuous peripheral edge formed in the desired shape. For example, as shown, there is a center front panel 16 defined by a combination score of cut lines. The score lines are indicated in FIG. 3 by dotted lines, and the cut lines are indicated on the interior of the panel 15 by solid lines. The center panel 16 has a score lines 17A, 17B, and 18A and 188. The lines 18A and 18B are joined by a cut line indicated at 20 that is part circular in the center portions. The term cut line means cut or slit is made through the paper stock. The cut line 20 joins cut out portions 21 and 22 at the top and bottom thereof, respectively.

There are also small notches 20A and 208 at the endof the cut line 20 as well. The score lines 17A and 17B are joined by a out line 23 that also then joins small notches 23A adn 23B which connect to cutout portions 24 and 25, at the bottom and top thereof, respectively.

The center panel 16 is joined along its score lines 17A and 17B, and 18A and 18B to side panel 20 and 31 respectively. The cutouts 21 and 22, respectively are made in panel 30 and the cutouts 24 and 25 are made in panel 31. The side panels 30 and 31 end along score lines indicated at 32 and 33, respectively, and the width of the side panels between the score lines 17A, 17B and score line 33 and the score lines 18A and 18B and the score line 32, respectively, is determined by the overall thickness of the item to be packaged. For example, where the flying saucer of the present invention is used, the distance between the flat portion 12 (the outer face) and the plan defined by the back terminal edge 34 of the saucer determines the width of the panels 30, 31. Also, for other objects the thickness of the product would determine the width of the side panels.

The panels 30 and 31 join back panels 36 and 37 respectively along score line 32 and 33, the back panels fold along the back of the product and hold the package in position.

As shown, the center front panel 16 is wider at its base or bottom than at the top, and at the top there is a tab member 40 fastened to the top panel, and this tab has an opening 41 that can be used for mounting the device or package onto a suitable hook on a display support.

There is a center cutout opening 43 in the center panel, as well as cutout designs 44 that can be formed at the same time that the entire panel is blanked, scored and punched. For example the punched out opening 43 and 44, the cut lines and 23, and joining notches,the cutouts 21, 22, 24 and 25, and all of the score lines can be formed in one single die stroke. Note that the cut lines 20 and 23 are part circular so that there is a part round center portion in the center front panel.

Now referring to FIG. 1 and also to FIG. 2, it is shown how the device is mounted onto the saucer 11, or other similar objects.

First, the package can be separated so that the cut lines 20 and 23 are free, and folded along score lines 17A and 17B, and also score lines 33. Then, one edge of the saucer can be slipped through the slit formed by cut lines 20 and 24 and 25. The side panel 31 is folded at right angles to the panel 16, the back panel 37 is folded so as to rest back against the back edge of the saucer as shown in FIG. 2 at the left hand side.

The cutouts 24 and 25, cut line 23 and notches 23A and 238 form a support member 46 which folds out of side panel 31. The support member 46 fits into the concave back side of thesaucer. The member 46 forms a support for the saucer in the package and a help to prevent the panel 37 from folding outwardly away from the back edge of the saucer because of the force reaction around score line 33.'Then, in order to finish putting the package onto the flat object, all that is necessary is to separate the panel 36 along out line 20, so that a support panel 45 formed by cut line 20 and the cutout portions is moved with the back panel 36 and bowing the support panel 45 and back panel 36 outwardly so that the panels will pass over the side edge of the saucer indicated at 48. The back panel 36 and support 45 then can be placed back against the back edge 34 of the saucer, and rotated around as shown by arrow 49 to position the back panel 37 flat against the back of the saucer. The side panel will then be at right angles to the front panel 16, and also at right angles to the back panel 36. The side panels are as wide as the product is thick and the cutout opening permit portions of the product to protrude through the package. The support 46 will fold into the concave portion of the saucer along score line 33. The saucer is supported by the lower edges of the cutouts 21 and 24.and the members 45 and 46. Because the package has to be bowed slightly in order to slip panels 46 and 36 over the side portion 48 of the saucer there is tension or force on the back panels 36 and 37. The slight outward force on the support edges of the opening in side panels 30 and 31 tend to urge the back panels against the back of the saucer.

The supports 45 and 46 rest against the back of the saucer and tend to urge the panels 36 and 37 to remain flat against the back of the saucer. The protrusion of the packaged article through the side edges of the package with members which react against the article to urge the back panels to remain flat against the article and to hold the package in closed or erected position. There also is a tendency of the back panels to stay in position once they have'been folded along the score lines 32 and 33. If the back panels pivot away form the back of the saucer, there is an urging toward their formed position.

The saucer is thus held out against edges of the opening formed by the cut lines and cutouts in side panels 30 and 31. The bottom area defined by the bottom edges of the panel 16, the side panels 30 and 31, and the back panels 36 and 37 to form a rectangular cross sectional support area that will hold the saucer and the package upright. As can be seen in FIG. 1, portions of the saucer are visible through the opening 43, and the cutouts 44, so that these can be seen in color because the saucer itself can be colored. The saucer has a planar center portion on which the trademark and identifying lable are normally placed. This is then visible through opening 43.

The package is simple to erect and eliminates the necessity for stapling or taping or using tabs. Only a slight bowing of the last panel area to be slipped over the end of the saucer is necessary, as shown in FIG. 2. Again, the assembly procedure is to first insert one side portion of the product through the openings in one side panel with one back panel against the back of the product, then have the package made so that is has to be bowed slightly to place the opposite side portion of the product through the opening in the corresponding side panel and then folding the corresponding back panel so that it is flat against the back of the product. The members such as supports 45 and 46, which are formed from at least portions of the side panels where the opening is formed, react against the product to help keep the back panels in place. An object with some thickness is desired so that'the panels 30 and 31 have some fore and aft length to provide a support for holding the product in an upright position. Also, tapering side portions of the product which engage the edges of the opening in the side panels help in proper assembly and support.

The shape of the panels is dictated by the desired end shape of the package, and as shown the front panel 16 tapers toward a narrower portion at the top thereby dictating the irregurlar bottom edge and irregular top edge 51 shown in FIG. 3.

What is claimed is:

1. A package for a toy disc shaped suacer having a circular periphery and having a thin main panel formed into a rimcurved rearwardly to form a rearwardly concave recess of substantially less thickness than the diameter of the saucer, said package comprising a front panel of smaller transverse dimension than the diameter of the saucer, a pair of side panels joined to said front panel, said side panels containing cutout portions of size to permit substantial opposite edge portions of said saucer to pass therethrough and to be exposed to view at the sides of said front panel, and back panel means joined along fold lines to each of said side panels, said back panel means folding back against the rear edge of the said rim of said saucer, and tab means fonned by the cutout portions and attached to said back panel means, said tab means engaging the rear of said saucer laterally outwardly on the saucer from the side panels to urge the back panel means against said rim and toward the back of said suacer when the package is placed on said saucer with the edge portions of the saucer extending laterally outwardly from said side panels through said cutout portions.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the side panels are positioned in relation to the front panel and the size of said cutout portion so that the saucer engages the edges of the cutout portions with a resilient force.

3. The combination as specified in claim 1 and apertures defined in said front panel, said apertures forming preselected designs through which the object may be seen.

4. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said package is cut from a single blank of paper stock material, and wherein said front panel, said side panels and said back panels, when in position on said package form a support that permits the standing of said package on the bottom edges of said package.

5. The combination as specified in claim 4 wherein said front panel tapers to a smaller dimension in direction away from said bottom edge of said package.

6. The combination as specified in claim 5 and a support tab attached to said front panel adjacent the top thereof, and an opening defined in said support tab on which the package can be hung.

7. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said saucer has a relatively planar center area and wherein the center area of said front panel is cut out to permit displaying a label on said saucer.

8. A package for a product which is self-erecting on the product, said product comprising a disc shaped object of greater diameter than thickness and having a front face, and with the back surface thereof being concave, said package including a front panel which is longer than the diameter of the product in height and substantially shorter than the diameter of the product in width, a pair of side panel means joined to opposite side edges of said front panel, support edge surfaces defining a cut-out opening in said side panels, said side panels extending at an angle with respect to said front panel across the thickness of said product, the edges defining said cutout opening engaging the edges of the side portions of said product to permit said side portions to protrude through the side panels past the edges defining said front panel a substantial distance, and at least one back panel means attached to one of said side panels, said back panel means being folded back against back of said product, a tab formed by the cutout opening of said one side of panel being attached to said back panel means, said tab being positioned to extend farther toward the side portion of the object than the one side panel and to engage the back surface to urge the back panel means against the back edges of said object without separate fastening means.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein said front panel, said side panels and said back panel means form a generally rectangular cross sectional shape when positioned on said object and form a bottom support edge to indpendently stand free and support said product.

10. The package of claim 8 wherein the upper end lower edges of said tabs engage the concave back surface adjacent the periphery of the object to form an additional support at the rear of the object.

T5353? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,767,043 Dated October 1973 Inventor(s) Morris Margolis et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

I. Column 1, line 21 "seein" should be--seeing--; Column l, .1 line 37 "ar" should be--are--. Column 2 line 30 "of" should be--and--; Column 2, line 36 after "means" insert--a--;

Column 2, line 42 "adn" should be--and--; Column 2,- line 45 "20" should be--30--. Column 4, line 39 "irregurl'ar" should be--irregular--. Column 6, line 25, (Claim 10, line 2) cancel--concave--.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of April l97l (SF L) Attest:

EDWARD E I.FLETCHER,JR. Y CQMARSHALL DANN 'Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A package for a toy disc shaped suacer having a circular periphery, and having a thin main panel formed into a rim curved rearwardly to form a rearwardly concave recess of substantially less thickness than the diameter of the saucer, said package comprising a front panel of smaller transverse dimension than the diameter of the saucer, a pair of side panels joined to said front panel, said side panels containing cutout portions of size to permit substantial opposite edge portions of said saucer to pass therethrough and to be exposed to view at the sides of said front panel, and back panel means joined along fold lines to each of said side panels, said back panel means folding back against the rear edge of the said rim of said saucer, and tab means formed by the cutout portions and attached to said back panel means, said tab means engaging the rear of said saucer laterally outwardly on the saucer from the side panels to urge the back panel means against said rim and toward the back of said suacer when the package is placed on said saucer with the edge portions of the saucer extending laterally outwardly from said side panels through said cutout portions.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein the side panels are positioned in relation to the front panel and the size of said cutout portion so that the saucer engages the edges of the cutout portions with a resilient force.
 3. The combination as specified in claim 1 and apertures defined in said front panel, said apertures forming preselected designs through which the object may be seen.
 4. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said package is cut from a single blank of paper stock material, and wherein said front panel, said side panels and said back panels, when in position on said package form a support that permits the standing of said package on the bottom edges of said package.
 5. The combination as specified in claim 4 wherein said front panel tapers to a smaller dimension in direction away from said bottom edge of said package.
 6. The combination as specified in claim 5 and a support tab attached to said front panel adjacent the top thereof, and an opening defined in said support tab on which the package can be hung.
 7. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said saucer has a relatively planar center area and wherein the center area of said front panel is cut out to permit displaying a label on said saucer.
 8. A package for a product which is self-erecting on the product, said product comprising a disc shaped object of greater diameter than thickness and having a front face, and with the back surface thereof being concave, said package including a front panel which is longer than the diameter of the product in height and substantially shorter than the diameter of the product in width, a pair of side panel means joined to opposite side edges of said front panel, support edge surfaces defining a cut-out opening in said side panels, said side panels extending at an angle with respect to said front panel across the thickness of saId product, the edges defining said cutout opening engaging the edges of the side portions of said product to permit said side portions to protrude through the side panels past the edges defining said front panel a substantial distance, and at least one back panel means attached to one of said side panels, said back panel means being folded back against back of said product, a tab formed by the cutout opening of said one side of panel being attached to said back panel means, said tab being positioned to extend farther toward the side portion of the object than the one side panel and to engage the back surface to urge the back panel means against the back edges of said object without separate fastening means.
 9. The package of claim 8 wherein said front panel, said side panels and said back panel means form a generally rectangular cross sectional shape when positioned on said object and form a bottom support edge to indpendently stand free and support said product.
 10. The package of claim 8 wherein the upper and lower edges of said tabs engage the concave back surface adjacent the periphery of the object to form an additional support at the rear of the object. 